Rietveldpaviljoen De Zonnehof
Art hall from 1959 designed by Gerrit Rietveld in Amersfoort, with changing exhibitions on photography, art and visual culture.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Rietveldpaviljoen, also known as "De Zonnehof", was designed by Gerrit Rietveld at the suggestion of the then mayor Hermen Molendijk and completed in 1959 as an exhibition building. It was intended not only to show art but to be a meeting place for all the people of Amersfoort. Rietveld had 6,020 small nails placed in the walls so that exhibition makers would never again have to hammer in nails themselves; large window surfaces and an open floor plan let even avant-garde works look good.
For more than half a century the building served as an exhibition space, but it also went through periods of vacancy, and in 2017 the city-owned building was even put up for sale. The municipality then decided to keep it and make it accessible to everyone. It stood empty for a long time from 2008; between 2019 and 2024 several organisations used it as an interim use, including the Amersfoort Fotostad foundation with a focus on photography and visual culture.
In April 2024 the Rietveldpaviljoen foundation was established, which has since run the building as an independent art hall. The programme rests on three pillars: making (studio), exhibiting (several thematic exhibitions per year, also with guest curators) and experiencing (music, talks and public programme). The house is supported by around fifty volunteers and a few paid staff.
Highlights
- Exhibition building by Gerrit Rietveld from 1959 with 6,020 wall nails
- Several thematic exhibitions per year on photography, art and visual culture
- Supporting programme with music, talks and workshops
- Admission includes a cup of coffee or tea
- Operated by
- Stichting Rietveldpaviljoen
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Young people up to and including 18 years free. |
Adults €5 including a cup of coffee or tea. Friends of the house (Vriendenpas) free. The Museumkaart is not valid. Tickets online or at the desk; the ticket is valid on the chosen day.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: not available
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
No lift: the upper exhibition level is reachable only by stairs; the museum tries to show works from there on monitors on the ground floor. No adapted toilet facilities.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
De Kei · 250 m
From Amersfoort station take bus line 17 towards Leusden to the stop "De Kei", then about 250 m on foot.
By car
Paid parking · 250 m to the entrance
Guarded, paid car parks nearby: Parkeergarage Mondriaan (Soeverein 36, approx. 250 m) and Parkeergarage Koestraat (Grote Haag 2, approx. 400 m).
Bicycles can be left unattended in front of the building.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
A coffee or tea is included in the adult ticket. Web shop available; the art gallery galerieRIETVELD is an offshoot of the house.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Educational programmes on the exhibitions for primary and secondary schools as well as MBO/HBO (60–90 minutes, Mon–Fri, enquiries via educatie@033rietveldpaviljoen.nl). The online ticket counts as the confirmation email; the Vriendenpas is scanned at the desk. |
